The Saudi-led coalition announced on Tuesday that it carried out a “limited” airstrike targeting two ships at Yemen’s Mukalla port, amid escalating tensions in the country’s eastern provinces following the expansion of the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

According to remarks carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Coalition Forces spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said the two vessels arrived at Mukalla port on December 27–28 from the UAE port of Fujairah without obtaining authorization from the coalition’s Joint Forces Command. Al-Maliki stated that the ships were carrying a large quantity of weapons and combat vehicles that were unloaded to support STC-aligned forces in the eastern governorates of Hadramout and al-Mahra.

He said the shipments were intended to “fuel the conflict” in the region, warning that the presence of such weapons posed a serious threat to security and stability. “Given the danger and escalation posed by these weapons, the Coalition Air Forces conducted a limited military operation this morning targeting weapons and combat vehicles unloaded from the two ships at the port of al-Mukalla after documenting the violations,” al-Maliki said.

The spokesperson emphasized that the operation was carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law and customary rules, adding that measures were taken to ensure no collateral damage occurred.

Al-Maliki reiterated the coalition’s stated commitment to de-escalation in Hadramout and al-Mahra, stressing that no military shipments to any Yemeni faction would be permitted without coordination with the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the coalition. He said the coalition remains focused on preventing further destabilization in the eastern provinces.

There was no immediate comment from the United Arab Emirates regarding the airstrike or the coalition’s allegations.

The airstrike comes as tensions continue to rise following the STC’s recent takeover of key areas in Hadramout and al-Mahra earlier this month, following clashes with government forces and local groups. The STC, which is backed by the UAE, has steadily expanded its military and administrative presence across southern and eastern Yemen, weakening the authority of the Aden-based government.

The STC has long argued that southern regions have been politically and economically marginalized by successive Yemeni governments and continues to call for separation from the north. Yemeni authorities and the Presidential Leadership Council have rejected these claims, insisting on preserving Yemen’s territorial unity and warning that unilateral moves risk deepening fragmentation.

In recent days, diplomatic sources say regional and international actors have intensified efforts to contain the escalation, amid fears that renewed fighting between nominal allies in the anti-Houthi camp could further complicate Yemen’s already protracted conflict. Observers warn that continued military confrontations in strategic areas such as Mukalla—home to key ports and energy infrastructure—could have serious economic and humanitarian consequences. (ILKHA)